My Story
I am a pastoral counselor and coach. I have been working with adults and teens for well over 20 years in my roles as a pastor, coach, and teacher.
I have a Master of Divinity and am a Board-Certified Pastoral Counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors. While I am a Christian, I work with all people, regardless of their faith. My work is grounded in an understanding that there is a necessary interconnectedness of our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. These principles guide my work. To be clear, I am not a licensed counselor, social worker, or family therapist, but I am trained as a pastoral counselor and coach.
I am certified as a Mental Health Coach through the American Association of Christian Counselors, I am certified as a 3-Dimension Coach through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I have pastoral care training through the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP). I am in the process of completing requirements for certification by the International Coaching Federation, the most recognized coach certification organization.
I provide solution focused pastoral counseling and coaching for couples, adults, and teens. When meeting clients on our farm, I am able to incorporate animals and nature in my work as the needs and goals of my client require.
My Calling
I grew up as part of a farm family. I discovered early on how working with plants and animals could help someone emotionally. As I was adopted as a child, then had my parent’s divorce and the new marriage and blended families left me swirling with emotions as a teenager. The plants and animals on the farm became a source of stability and predictability in my life. Since then, I have learned how people dealing with the effects of depression, anxiety, and poor attachment can be helped through connecting with animals and nature.
God has blessed me with a burden for students and their families. I believe that it’s during the formative seasons of life that we experience the sort of change that often leads many to wrestle with questions, doubts, and options that often results in feeling overwhelmed or getting stuck. God has called me to help people gain clarity on their created purpose, reorient their lives around core strengths and values, and identify steps required to build momentum for change. My work is focused around helping people see and experience the immense love God has for them and the unique purpose for which they were each created, because I believe that is the point where “real life” begins.
I was moved by the tragedy at Columbine High School in April of 1999, I left work in the business world and began a life of ministry. First, as a high school teacher and career 
counselor then as a fulltime youth pastor all the while coaching high school athletics. After transitioning to full time ministry, and a series of “coincidences” I began attending seminary, graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2012 to serve as lead pastor for churches in Maryland and Florida.
In 2002, my family got our first horse Dixie, adding a Mustang, Reno, two years later. That same year, our family purchased a small farm in Centreville, Maryland, which has become home to the horses, dogs, and chickens as well as a variety of berries. Our farm has become a setting for growth and connection.
Our mission at Rising Hope is to see both people experience the freedom that God designed for life, a life of acceptance, healing, resilience, and growth.